KDs are designed/developed/inspired/mused/auto-suggested/indigested to make folks think; an especially uncommon experience among Democrats, Republicans, and jingoistic mainline denominationalists who continue to discourage dissent with their ever-threatening thought police.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Cpl. Ryan John Cummings, U.S.M.C.

Dedication of Memorial Brick

in honor of

Cpl. Ryan John Cummings, U.S.M.C.

July 2, 2016

The
vision of Marine veteran Tim Crabb to establish this permanent memorial in
honor of those who serve and served to protect America was embraced by Doug
Jackson along with all of the patriotic employees and extended family of
Woodstock Harley-Davidson.

While the site was dedicated on
November 7, 2015, it will be rededicated regularly as more bricks are
installed; and more bricks will be installed because America’s commitment to
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone regardless of class,
color, or culture will always be challenged by dark politics, ideologies, and
religions.

Like the patriot being honored today
– Cpl. Ryan John Cummings – more patriots to the highest American ideals
undeniably based on Biblical values of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love will
answer the call to protect and promote freedom with their lives as compelled by
Jesus who modeled sacrifice: “I give My life for you voluntarily…There is no
greater love than to die for the safety and security of others…If you are going
to follow Me, you must take up your cross and deny yourself…Whoever saves his
life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for Me will find it…Remember, as
you are doing it for them, you are doing it for Me.”

Cpl. Cummings incarnated His call.

A graduate of Hoffman Estates High
School, Ryan was a straight-A student who played French horn for the band and
wrestled for the Hawks.

He enlisted as a Marine on September
10, 2001.

Terrorist attacks the very next day
– simply 9/11 as we recall that horror – caused him, as dad John said, to be
“more gung-ho than ever that he did the right thing.”

Highly decorated Cpl. Ryan John
Cummings, in a voluntary choice to return for a third tour in Iraq, paid the
ultimate sacrifice for God and country when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle
and he rose to eternal life by grace through faith in Jesus on June 3, 2006.

As we thank God for Ryan’s
sacrificial service along with all of the veterans memorialized at this
consecrated site and throughout the nation and world to honor Americans who
have interceded to protect and promote freedom, the military orders from Jesus
come to mind: “I am sending you out into a dangerous world filled with
wolves…So be as wise and tough-minded as serpents, recognizing there are
predators out there, and as tender-hearted as doves who help protect people
from those predators.”

Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper,
the movie about legendary Navy Seal sniper Chris Kyle, comes to mind as
Wayne Kyle says to his sons around the dinner table, “There are three types of
people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs.Some people prefer to believe that evil
doesn’t exist in the world…they…[don’t]…know how to protect themselves.Those are the sheep…Then you’ve got the predators
who use violence to prey on the weak…wolves…and then there are those blessed…with
an overpowering need to protect the flock…who live to confront the
wolf…sheepdogs.”

By the grace of God, Cpl. Ryan John
Cummings was a sheepdog who remains an inspiration to those called to the same
who warrant our ceaseless thanks and honor.

With thanks to God for the life,
personal cross-bearing, and now eternity of Ryan, we dedicate this brick in
this sacred place to be installed side-by-side with other national heroes who
followed Jesus through the valley of shadows to deliver us from evil in time to
rise to eternity in heaven at His assurance, “He who believes in Me, though he
die, yet will he live; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”

Let us pray.

Thank You, Father, for Cpl. Ryan
John Cummings who followed Your most graciously saving example in Jesus to
deliver us from evil in time.As we
dedicate this brick in his honor to rest side-by-side with others who have
obeyed the same call, we thank You for Ryan’s eternal life and the certain
assurance of reunion in that pure and perfect place of personal peace where
there is no more pain, tears, or suffering anymore.As Ryan is eternally alive and we feel his
encouragement to the highest values of America based on Your Word, he continues
as an inspiring model of Someone better with whom we pray, “Our Father who art
in heaven…Amen.”

The
grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of God, and communion of
the Holy Spirit be with you all!